Fluid driven power unit



Aug- 12, 1958 P. E. ANDERSON x-:TAL 2,847,186

FLUID DRIVEN POWER UNIT 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 12, 1953 Aug. 12, 1958 P. E. ANDERSON ETAL 2,847,186

FLUID DRIVEN POWER UNIT 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 12, 1953 A A INVENTORS. STEPHEN A. 57AM BvP/:UL E- ANDERSON Aug. 12, 1958 P. E. ANDERSON ETAL FLUID DRIvEN POWER UNIT 5 Sheets-Shea?l 3 Filed Jan. 12, 1953 INVENTORS. STE/CHEN, A, 572W/ BY PAUL E ANDERSON. 1

United States Patent O FLUlD ADiuvnrl POWER-UNIT Paul E. Anderson,v Lo'sAngeles,- and vStephen A'. Stam, Glendale, Calif.,yass`ignors to"'Harvey li/lachine Co., Inc., Torrance, Calif., a corporation ofCalifomia Application January 12,1 1953, SerialNo. 330,821)v 1sV Clims. (Ci. V25a- 59) is available under compression, and where it isdesired` to drive 'a generator, a pump, or other such structure at a constant-speed.- The invention contemplates, broadly, a structure handling .for driven byxanyA suitable or available fluid, whether air, a gas, or a liquid. Since the .embodimentof the invention herein set forth is designedto be driven by air'we-willrefer toairw asthe` fluid-involved, but employ that term broadly, and mean to' include lany -fluid that can be employed in-carrying-out thef invention.

A general object `of the present inventionis toprovide .fa power unit Iof the general character referredto'which is `such :as to deliver powerthrough `a shaft operating' at a constant Aspeed under varying;conditions,l including varying pressure of the fluid `available for driving thestrueture or glariation `of the load being `operated or"driv`en, 'or bot i Another object of this invention is'toprovideapower runit of `the general character referred to which is'of simple, practical, compact form and construction. In accordance with the present invention the mechanism-is'characterized by the essential elements arranged and `relatedfsothata unit of substantial capacity is "of nominal size'.

Itis anotherlobject of theinvention to providef'aunit -of the general `charac-:terreferred` to whereinthevariou's parts are-of such form'andlconstruction' asi-tofber'eadily and economically manufa-cturedand are such that they can be easily and quickly assembled.

lIt is a further object of the present inventionto `provide la unit of the general character referred Yto 'which is'snch `as to gain very :accuratespeed control throughfacontrolled or governed flowcontrol valve or metering device,whil`e at the same time being freeof` delicate partsdifeult or expensive of manufacturing 'or'lik-ely to' fail `or .befinaccurate in operation.`

The power unit of the present invention is-characterized by a body housing the various parts, `andin thema-in portion or section of the'body there' is a rotor characterized by `a tubular rotor shaft and a Wheel on theishaft'provi'ded with bladesat its periphery`.` Suitable 'bearings' mountsthe rotor in the, body' `and la nozzle or air directing "means1is provided to directfluidto the blades 'ofthe rotor'to 'effect driving of the rotor. A metering means controls the fflow of fluid supplied` to the-nozzles Iand'is preferablyicharacterized by :a slide valve normally held open, as by a lspring, land adapted to be moved toward a closed position bythe pressureof. the fluid beingsupplied to'drive the, unit. A driven shaft projects from the body and a drive is provided ICC between the shaft of the rotor `andthe driven shaft. The drive preferably includes la speed reducingmechanism wherebyy the driven shaft operates substantially` slower than the rotor shaft, though it is concentricltherewith; A speed responsive'means is provided to control' or govern the action yof the air metering means,and preferably includes a propeller shaft -drivenby thedrivenshaft anda couple between the propeller shaft and -a bleed valve" characterized by one or more elements operated ce'ntrifugally. The couple issuch 4that as the speed-of rot-ation kof :the propeller shaft increases the bleed valve is'iopened, bleeding operating pressure from the airimetering means, with the result that the mechanism as a whole willoperate 'at apredetermined speed' under varying pressures'of fluid supplied as the driving medium and under 'variations of the' load imposed upon the driven shaft. i

The various `objects and features .of our invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form andapplication of the invention, throughout which description reference is V`made to the accompanying drawing, in which;

Fig.'1 is 'a side elevation of the power unit as provided bythepresent invention. Fig. 2. is-an enlarged longitudinal detailed vsectionaliview ofthe unit. Fig. 3 is'an enlarged, detailed sectionalwiew of a part `of the unit,

Vdeveloped layout illustrating the nozzle construction and port-ing employed in the construction. Fig. l0 is' a View similar to Fig. A9 illustrating the orificef constructionr provided inthe air metering means, and Fig; l1 is "a perspective view illustrating certainparts of the' nozzle'structure as illustratedin Fig. 9, separate'from other portions of themechanisru` The structure provided by the'present` invention involves, generally, a body A which is preferably sectional, and which, in the case illustrated, includes amain' or-central `section X, .a front end or air 'supply section Y, and a rearv end orshaftcarrying' sectionZ. `A rotor Bis located inthe main section X- of the body and is characterizedby a shaft 10, awheel 11 on the shaft 10,' and blades 12'0n the Wheel. Suitable bearing means C supports the rotorv shaft 10 in the bodyand preferably' includes a front'bearing` 13`V and a rear bearing 14'.` A nozzle or air drectin'grneans D is carried in or by the body and'in a typical construction includes a nozzle plate 15 and a liner 16 surrounding the periphery of the plate'and cooperating therewith to establish suitable openingsA or nozzles that direct air to the blades ofthe rotor. An air metering means E is providedand isilocatedin the air supply section Y of the body which serves to conduct air from a supply duct 2G to the means D. The throttling means E is preferably a slide valve mechanism` including a valve seat Z1l cooperatively related to the plate 15 of means D, a sleeve type valve 22'cooperating with the'seat, a piston element 23 carried by the valve 22`and slidably engaged with an extension 24 of the'plate 15, andia spring 26 normally yieldingly holding theV valve 22 in an open position. A mounting means for the valve 22 includes a forwardfiange 27 on projection 24 andla rear flange 28 on the extension 24, which flanges slidably engage the valve 22. A main driven shaft F is `carried by the section Z of the body through a b'earing31 and projects v from the body as into a housingf33, 0r the like." Adrive means G is provided between the rotor shaft 10 and the driven shaft F and. preferably serves to effect speed reduction as between the rotor shaft and driven shaft. A control means H governs the action of the metering means E responsive to the speed -of operation of the shaft F and includes, generally, a propeller shaft 30 driven by the driven shaft F, a bleed valve 34 to bleed pressure tending to operate the piston 23, and a speed responsive actuating means 35 driven by the propeller shaft 30 and operating the valve 34. The unit includes various other elements and features of construction the details of which will be hereinafter set forth.

The body A may, in practice, be varied widely in form and construction, it being preferred however that it be of simple, sectional construction, and in the case illustrated it includes separable sections X, Y, and Z. The main or middle section X of the body, in effect houses or carries the rotor B, while the section Y, at what will be termed the front or forward end of the unit, serves as a housing for certain parts such as elements of the means E and H, and it serves as a duct carrying air from the supply duct 20 to the elements of the structure where the air is utilized. The section Z is located at the rear end of the structure and serves primarily as a support for the driven shaft F and also supports other elements, as will be hereinafter described.

The rotor B is located in and is preferably confined to the main section X of the body and the shaft of the rotor, which is tubular in form, is mounted or located centrally of the unit or so that its axis is concentric with the central longitudinal axis of the structure. The wheel 11 of the rotor is fixed on the forward end portion of the shaft 10 and is provided at its periphery with a continuous annular series of blades 12.

The bearings 13 and 14 that support the rotor shaft 10 rotatably support that shaft centrally in the main section X of body A so that the axis of the shaft is concentric with the central longitudinal axis of the mechanism. The bearings 13 and 14 are anti-friction bearings carried in a central tubular core 36 rigidly supported in the main section A of the body through elements hereinafter described. The forward end of the core is adjacent but clear of the wheel 11 of the rotor, while the rear end of the core terminates short of the rear end of the main section X. The bearing 13 is located in the forward portion of the core 36 and supports the rotor shaft 10 adjacent the wheel 11, while the bearing 14 is in the rear end portion of the core 36 and supports the rear end portion of the rotor shaft.

The nozzle or air directing means D is carried by or is located in the forward end portion of the main body section X and delivers air rearwardly in the body and to the blades 12 to effect rotation or driving of the rotor. In the form illustrated the means D includes a cylindrical member of liner 38 carried in a bore 39 provided in the body section X from its forward end. The bore 39 and liner 38 extend longitudinally of the body section X from the forward end thereof to av chamber 40 that occurs centrally in the body section X which chamber is in communication with a lateral exhaust port 41 to which an exhaust pipe 42 may be connected.

The means D includes a nozzle plate 43 carried by the forward end portion of the body section X. The plate 43 is located within the liner 38 and its rear end terminates adjacent the forward side of the wheel 11. A mounting flange 44 on the plate 43 engages the forward end of body section X and is confined between the forward end of body X and a mounting flange 4S on body section Y. Suitable fastening means 46 connect the flange 45, the flange 44 and the forward end of body section X, as clearly illustrated in the drawings.

The nozzle plate 43 has a plurality of notch-like openings 46 entering it from its periphery and forming the nozzles that direct the air to the blades of the rotor. In the case illustrated the plate 43 has a plurality of radially disposed ports 47 through which air is fed radially outward to the nozzle openings 46. The openings 46 are suitably spaced around or in an annular series and they are shaped and proportioned to handle the air so that it is directed most advantageously as it flows from the ports 47 to the blades of the rotor. Drag relieving recesses 48 are provided in the rear side of the plate 43 between the points where the openings 46 open toward the blades, as clearly shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent how the liner 38 and nozzle plate 43 cooperate with body section X, closing the outer ends of the ports 47 and forming outer Walls for the openings 46 so that there is a simple, practical construction yby which air is conducted radially through the plate 43 and then directed axially and tangentially through the nozzle openings 46 to act on the blades 12 and effectively and efficiently drive the rotor. The air throttling means E controls the flow of air handled `by tbody section Y to the means D, and more specifically to the ports 47 of means D. The air throttling means includes a shiftable valve, preferably a sleeve type valve 22, that cooperates with an annular seat 21. In the preferred construction an annular recess 50 is provided in the plate 43 inward of the ports 47 and the valve seat 21 is in the form of an annular insert carried in the recess to occur between the flange 44 and the plate 43. The recess 50 enters the plate 15 from the front side thereof and the insert 'forming the seat 21 is preferably a part formed separate from the plate and engaged therewith, as shown in the drawings, in order to simplify manufacture.

In accordance with the present invention flow orifices are provided in or through the annular valve seat. The orifices 51 are in an annular series extending around the seat and they are of various sizes or shapes. In the preferred form of the invention the orifices 51 are formed so that each has a straight forward wall 52, straight parallel side walls 53, and a straight pitched or inclined rear wall 54. The front walls 52 of the several orifices 51 are parallel, in fact, they are preferably in a common plane normal to the axis of the structure, `and the side walls 53 of the several orifices are preferably equally spaced apart so that each orifice is of the same circumferential extent. The rear Walls 54 are spaced various distances rearward of the front walls so that the orifices 51 vary in size or capacity, as will be apparent from Fig. 10 of the drawings.

The valve 22, being a sleeve valve, slidably enters the forward end of the valve seat 21 and its rear end 56, which is flat or straight and in a plane normal to the axis of the structure, cooperates with the orifices 51 in the control of air flow from recess 50 to the ports 47. It will be apparent that as the valve sleeve 22 is moved axially, for instance, rearwardly from a position such as is shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will decrease the effective size or capacity of each orifice 51 and as it moves or progresses rearwardly it will completely cut out the orificesone after another, and may reach a position where only the orifice 51 of maximum axial extent is passing air. Through this action the nozzle openings 46a are maintained in satisfactory operating condition and the structure is controlled so that it varies from a condition under which all of the nozzle openings 46a are operating at substantially full capacity, to a condition where but one nozzle opening is operating at substantially full capacity. This successive cutting out of the nozzle openings 46EL results in far more eilicient or effective operation than would be the case if the action were such as to gradually reduce or bean down the orifices 51 until they were all severely choked and all operating uniformly. This is true in that a mechanism of the character under consideration operates most efficiently when there is a flow of air through the nozzle openings and to the blades of a velocity and volume for which the parts are designed, and throttling, as such, reduced to a minimum.

The mounting means for the sleeve valve 22 includes the extension 24 of the plate 43, which extension is located centrally ofuthe` structure and projects 'forwardifron the f'platefwell into the body section Y. .In thecase-illustrated ifthe extension.` 24y .is Fshown as formed se'paratetl from the Iplate 43'andy as joined `thereto -by-athreadedl connection .i 60. The extension 24.*fitsin or projects forwardly through 4'the-valve 22 "with substantialclearance anda rear valve :supporting `flange.` ZSprojec-ts from the extensionn24=and ftslidably. supports thef. rear end portion ofthe valve.24. =Afhead v61- carried on thev forward end portion of. extension 24 and forming apart thereof has .theflange 27 vprojecting -therefrom `and slidably.supportstheforward portion of lthe Valve22. 'Irhe head'61` has a stop-an-ge 62 projecting .from it1and1serving to 4,limit forwardvmovement `of `valve 22. The. head- `61 i'n thegcase illustrated. is held on the extension 24 by a, threaded connection. -Aretainer 64 .-for .the=head. 61 isthreadedonsthe1extension 24 as at 63 andret'ains the head.on..the extension-Maudv closes the forward e'nd. ofthe extension.

Thel piston'23 integrally related to valve 22 .is` an annu- .lar piston carried lby the valve 22 andprojecting inwardly *therefrom to slidably engagetheextension'24.between thesupporting fl'anges-27k and.28. An .air inletport 70 is provided in the forwardvalve supporting flange 27 and Hairpassingnotches 71 are providedin the stopflange 62 -of `head 61- so that air being handledlby the body section .Y. is' admitted `into theV valve 22. at the forward side ofthe V.piston 23 to act-upon the piston 23 and ,then tov force. or

move the valve rearwardly.

The spring 26 provided to normally yieldingly urge the valve22 forwardly or :to the -open position is. preferably eaihelicalcompression spring arranged around the extensionl24 between the rear-supporting angeZS and the rear i side of'piston 23. Therspring 26 is such as to normally yieldin'glyfhold .the-valve- 22'in.a forward position where it is open, and it is -such.that when thepressure ofair acting on .piston23iexceeds apredetermined value it yields,-l allowingl the lvalve .'22 to ..move` rearwardly. and fconsequently meter. or reduce. theowofair throughthe wseat. 21. One-.or\more small Jair bleeding portsw73 are sprovided in therextension 24.between the piston to the linterior of the` extension4 24.ifrom whence it may escape through airible'eding ports 74 in the rear. endof extension -24 to. enter the'cavitytonchamber 40.occurrir 1g .in body section 1X. r f

Inthe,` preferred `construction a. suitable-v cushioning spring ,75. is, .provided arouridthe..extensionX 24 by .the il'ange 274 and, piston.l23,..asA clearly illustratedtin...the ../drawings. With the general-.construction .and varrangement thus far describedair admitted .to body .section Y lro'wslongitudinally .through thebody section and.. around 5 vthe valvea22 until :it `reaches=the rear end portlon ofvalve f2.2 -whereit isi passed into the valve 22 through inlet 1 ports` 77,. Fromvthe rear end of valve 22 .the .air enters lrecessvsland itowsfrom recess. 5.0 tothe radial lports r 47 under the cntrol4 of. the valve 22. Through .the conlstruction above. describ'edit will be apparent that-aspressurenon the air increases in body section Y` in a :manner l. that normally. would tend to .increase the speed of "rotation of rotor B, the valve.22 is. operated and effects. a -metering of the. airilow to .the blades ofthe rotor. and, l consequentl'j/,Ythere is-` ageneral control4 ofthe rotor re- ,.lsponsiveto. the pressure of fluid-supplied` tothe structure. LIt :should be noted. however,.thatlthis fluid pressure con- -trol .oftheH'rotor is anindirectcontrol only,.the valve being- .directly responsive to. and` `controlled bythe speed responsive means The main powerfshaft `F is provided atthe shaft carryring section.` Z OfbodyAand .projects rearwardlytherehfrom. Theshaft F is2preferably supported, inv body sectionzZ `as. by meansof the anti-friction bearing 3.1,` so .-that it: is concentric with 'the rotor. and. thefotherY working vparts-thus far described. The' 'anti-friction bearing 31 'is shownl supporteddir'vectlyin body section Z where it "isr'tained by a suitabl'eretainerl S0 held by fasteners 81. AiTliedive ieasGfprovided :between the shaft of the rotor -B and the driven shaft F .is preferably a speed reducing geardrive. In the construction illustrated the rotor. B is .such as to operate at a very high speed and it is desired `that there be a substantiall speed. reduction 5 gained between the rotor lshaft -10andrthe driven shaft F. The drive means G illustrated `in `the drawings effects a speed reduction between the shaftsand .it is shown. as including a counter-shaft 82 supported in the body A. by

anti-friction bearings 83 and 84. The' bearing 183 supports the forward end ofthe counter-shaft` 82.in 4the main section X of the body, while the bearing 84. supports the rear end of the counter-shaft in the body section Z. A large gear 85 on the forward end portion of -shaft 82 ,meshes with gear teeth 86provided .onthe rotor shaft l10 betweenY bearings 13 and.14, withthe result thatthe countershaft 82 is driven from the shaft=10. The teeth 86 on the shaft. y10 form adrive pinion considerably smaller in'diameter than the gear 85,.with the resultthat there is a substantial speed reduction between shaft. `10 and the countershaft 82. A small pinion 87 on the rear endportionof the countershaft 82 meshes with and drives a drive gear 88. which is substantially larger. than the pinion 87 and which is mounted concentric with the driven shaft F. The gear. 88 has aforwardlyprojecting tubular extension 87 carrying an anti-friction bearing 90 supported Aon the rear endportionv of the rotor shaft 10. A rearwardly projecting tubular. extension 91 of gear 88 extends over the forward end portionk of shaft F and into the bearing 31 so thatitis, in effect, interposed between these par-ts, A suitable driving connection is provided between the gear extension 91 and the shaft F and may be formed by engaging splines 92.

A suitable sealing` means V94 is provided at the rear end portion of the structure a-s betweenthe extension 91 of the gear 88 and the retainer 80. of bearing 31 which is, ineffect, a part of body s'ectionpZ. This seal serves `to prevent leakage. from the rear end portion ,of the structure.

In .accordance with the present invention the body section Y is provided with walls 95 serving to lhouse the drive gears, as hereinabove described, to form suitable supportsY for the various bearings within the body section X and also a support for the core 36 hereinabove described. The w'alls 95 are so formed as to establish a closed chamber 96 inlthe body housing the gearsvor working 'elements of means G and parts such as the bearings 13 and 14. The chamber 96 is accessible through an opening 'closed by a plug 97 and may carry a suitable lubricant jas indicated in thev drawings. A sealing means 0 100 is provided at the forward endl of core 36 around the rotor shaft` 10 and between the wheel 11 and the bearing 13 to prevent leakage of lubricant from chamber 96 into the chamber' 40 or passage of air from chamber 90, as shown in Fig. 2.

The particular sealing means 100 illustrated, inthe drawings, is more `fully set forth and is the subject of our copending application entitled, Fluid Seal, Serial No. 330,823, filed on even date herewith. A sealing means 101 is provided between the gear 88 and the rear 60 :end of rotor shaft 10 and in the case illustrated includes a spring pressed sealing assembly slidable in a case 102 carried lin the gear 88 and sealing against the end of the 'shaft 10 or a part thereon, such as a race of the bearing 90, as shown in Fig. 2.

65 The control means 'H governs -the action of the meter ing means E responsive to speed and in the form of the invention herein set 'forth it is responsive to the speed of the parts driven bythe air passed by the metering means E. More specifically, in the case illustrated the 70 meansv H governs the metering means E responsive to .the speed, at which the shaft' F is driven, and it vserves to effect an accurate regulation of the action of the unit to the end that the shaft F operates at a substantially *uniform speed regardless of variations in the load occur- 75 ring on the shaft F.

The means H is, in effect, a valve controlled means serving to bleed pressure from space between the flange 27 and valve 22 of means E. In the construction illustrated a pressure relieving port 110 is provided in the extension 24 of the plate 43 at a point between the piston 23 and the supporting flange 27. A slide valve 111, in effect a needle type valve, is provided centrally within extension 24 and cooperates with a seat member 112 to control flow of air through port 110. In the construction illustrated the seat member 112 is threaded into the extension 24 forming its forward end and'has a central opening 113 accommodating a forward stem 114 of the valve 111. An annular recess 116 is provided in the exterior of the valve member 112 and communicates with port 110 and a radial port 117 connects the recess 116 with the opening 113. The valve 111 is engaged in the opening 113 from its rear end and when in the forward position seats against the valve member 112 land closes the opening 113.

A spring means is provided normally tending to open valve 111 as by moving it rearwardly. In the construction illustrated this means includes a helical compression spring 127 carried between a plug 128 in the forward end of the extension 24 and the forward stem 114 of valve 111.

A speed responsive means is provided to operate the valve 111 and is such as to so control the action of the metering means E 'as to cause the means E to reduce the flow of air to the rotor as the speed of shaft F increases. With the construction illustrated, under normal conditions and assuming the valve 111 open or partly open, lair from body section Y is admitted to the piston 23 `as hereinabove described, `and moves it rearwardly. However, there is a partial drainage of Iair and consequent relief of pressure through the ports 116 and 117 and air escapes past valve` 111 through extension 24 and out through ports 74 provided in communication with chamber 40. The speed responsive means serves to move the valve 111 forward and consequently choke down the ow of escaping air, and if the speed of shaft F is great enough it may close valve 111 so that there is a maximum effect of air pressure on piston 23, causing means E to close.

The speed responsive means as provided `by the invention includes the propeller shaft 30 that extends through the tubular rotor shaft and which has its rear end coupled to the gear 88 so that it is rotated therewith and consequently is, in effect, driven by or with the shaft F. The propeller shaft projects forward from the rotor shaft and its forward end portion is carried by an antifriction bearing 130 supported centrally in the plate 43. A coupling means is provided between the propeller shaft 30 and `a rearwardly projecting stern 131 on valve 111 and is characterized by the centrifugally operated elements 35. In the case illustrated the coupling between the propeller shaft 30 and the valve includes opposed heads 132 and 133 which define a chamber 134 in which the members are located. The head 132 is fixed on the end of the propeller shaft while the head 133 is supported on the valve stem 131 through an anti-friction bearing 138. l

A suitable drive connection is provided between the heads 132 and 133 so that these parts rotate together, and in the case illustrated it includes drive pins 139 into guideways 140 in head 133. In accordance with the invention the chamber 134 as defined by the heads 132 and 133 is conical in form or outwardly convergent, and lin the particular case illustrated the opposing faces of the two heads are conical in form, `as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The members or elements 35 are adapted to be operated by centrifugal force and are confined between the opposing faces of the heads 132 and 133. The construction is such that when the head 133 is in a rearward position, to which it is forced by the spring 127 and under which condition the valve 111 is open, the

balls 3S are in or approach the center of the mechanism. F

As the propeller shaft 30 rotates the head 32 is rotated and drives the head 33 which rotates freely on the stem 131 of the valve. As the speed of propeller shaft 30 increases the radial force or pressure created by the balls 35 increases and when the speed is suicient this radial force or pressure will overcome the force of spring 127 and will serve to move the head 133 forward and, consequently, move the valve 111 toward a closed position. When the speed of the shaft 30 is up to a predetermined value the balls will have moved out to a position where the head 133 is forced forward, causing the valve 111 to be closed. Under this condition the `air in the body section Y has a maximum effect upon the piston 23 so that there is a maximum metering action reducing the tlow of air to the rotor.

In the preferred form of the means H the mechanism responsive to centrifugal action includes a lubricant carrying core located centrally of the mechanism and preferably extending between the heads 132 'and 133. This element may, in practice be a body of felt or the like, wet with or bearing a lubricant such as oil. When -the balls 35 are in they contact the element 150 and as 'a result of this the mechanism is kept effectively lubricated.

The throttle means E and the speed responsive means H cooperating with the means E are such as to be useful in situations different from the one herein set forth, and these elements are set forth and are specifically claimed in copending application Serial No. 330,822 entitled Control Mechanism.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of our invention, We do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve'to ourselves any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims:

Having described our invention, we claim:

l. A uid driven power unit of the character described including, a body adapted to conduct a stream of driving fluid, a rotor carried in the body and driven by the uid, a throttle to control ow of uid to the rotor and positioned by a piston in axial alignment with the rotor and responsive to the pressure of uid in the body, and an independent control means driven by the rotor and responsive to the speed of operation of the rotor and including, a shiftable pressure releasing valve Within the piston and governing the fluid pressure acting on the piston to control ow of fluid to the rotor, and a speed responsive means driven from the rotor and positioning the pressure releasing valve.

2. A fluid driven power unit of the character described including, a body adapted to conduct a stream of driving fluid, a rotor carried in the body and driven by the fluid, a throttle to control ow of uid to the rotor and positioned by a piston in axial alignment with the rotor and responsive to the pressure of uid in the body, and an independent control means driven by the rotor and responsive to the speed of operation of the rotor, the said throttle including a shiftable uid valve actuated by the piston to control the flow of fluid to the rotor, said control means including a shiftable pressure releasing valve within the piston and governing the uid pressure acting on the piston, and a speed responsive means positioning the releasing valve and driven from the rotor.

3. A fluid driven power unit of the character described including, a body adapted to conduct a stream of driving fluid, a rotor carried in the body and driven by the fluid, a throttle to control flow of uid to the rotor and positioned by a piston in axial alignment with the rotor and responsive to the pressure of fluidin the body, and an independent control means driven by the rotor and responsive to the speed of Ioperation of the rotor and including, a shiftable pressure releasing valve within the piston and governing the fluid pressure acting on the piston to control flow of duid to the rotor, and a centrifugally actuated vmeans positioning the pressure releasing valve and driven from the rotor.

4. iluidfdriven power unit of the character described fincluding, 'a body? adaptedV to receive driving '-u'id, a Irowitlii'n'iI-'the' sleeve lvalveI and A'positioned byf a speed re- #pressure 'acting' on lthe` p iston. i

" to the4 speed operation of the rotor, the :sind -throttle including a shiftable s eve valvel'inaxial "alignment'with the rt'o'r and vz'ictiia df by the piston to `l :control Bow fuid to the rotor, tllaledsiaid control-means ,includinga shiftable pressure releasing valvelwithin the `sleevevalve' to govern the fluid pressure acting' on `the lfplistnfvand centrifuglly actuatedlnreans within the sleeve valve.

6. A uid driven'I power unit bfithe lcharacter described rincluding,fa body adapted to receiver driving uid; afrotor 1 carriedin the body and driven bythe fluid, athrottle to control ow of fluid to the rotor and positioned by a piston responsive to the pressure of uid in the body, and an independent control means driven by the rotor andl responsive to the speed of operation of the rotor, the said throttle including a shiftable sleeve valve in axial alignment with the rotor and actuated by the piston to control flow of uid to the rotor, the said control means including a -shiftable pressure releasing valve within the .sleeve valve to govern the uid pressure acting on the piston, there being an element in the body rigid therewith and carrying both of said valves.

7. A Huid driven power unit of the character described including, a body adapted to receive driving uid, a rotor carried in the body and driven by the fluid, a throttle to control flow of fluid to the rotor and positioned by a piston responsive to the pressure of tluid in the body, and an independent control means driven by the rotor and responsive to the speed of operation of the rotor, the said throttle including a shiftable sleeve valve in axial alignment with the rotor and actuated by the piston to control flow of fluid to the rotor, the said control means including a shiftable pressure releasing valve Within the sleeve valve to govern the fluid pressure acting on the piston, there being an element in the body rigid therewith and carrying both of said valves, said element having openings therein directing uid from the sleeve valve to the rotor.

8. A uid driven power unit of the character described including, a body adapted to receive driving fluid, a rotor carried in the body and driven by the iluid, a throttle to control flow of fluid to the rotor and positioned by a piston responsive to the pressure of lluid in the body, and -an independent control means driven by the rotor and responsive to the speed of operation of the rotor, there being an element in the body with radial orifices, each with a nozzle opening receiving fluid and directing it to the rotor, the said throttle including a shiftable valve actuated by the piston and varying the orices in said element to control the ow of fluid to the rotor.

9. A liuid driven power unit of the character described including, a body adapted to receive driving fluid, a rotor carried in the body and driven by the uid, a throttle to control ow of Huid to the rotor and posil0 '-ition'e'd by a piston resp'onsiveto the pressure of fluid in the lbody,a driven-shaft carried `by `the body,^a'drive inlthebody from'lthe rotos' to the shaft and anindef pendent control means rdriven with the shaft land:`idap"ted to vary thefluid pressure Y acting on' the ypiston "andresponsive to the speed of operation of theshaftfthe rotor includingL a blade carrying wheel, the-throttle being-locatedffin'the body-in 4one direct-ion axially' 'of 'the wheel, -thedrive andl driven shaftbeing `located'in the -other direction axially of' the wheel, iandthe vspeed-responsive means including a drive memberextending from-'a point adjacent lthe shaftpthrough the Wheelf'andto a-point' `adjacent the throttle.

l0. A fluid driven power unit of the charac-tier -de- *scribed "including, a 1 body adapted -to receive driving fluid,V a rotor carried vin the -body and-'driven by the fluid,- a throttle -to control flow of 'uidtothe rotor and y#positioned by a piston "responsive Ito"the 'pressure'of iluidinthe body, adrivon shaft carried by tlie body,-l a 'drive in 'the body fromthe rotor to the shaft, andan `iindependent control 'meansdriven with the shaft* and `adapted to vary the fluid lpressure acting on the piston and` responsive to Vthe'speed vof operation fof' 4the shaft, t the rotor including a vtubular shaftand ablade 'carrying wheelon the' tubular shaft, thethrottle being located `'in "the body in AKonei'directionv axially 'of the wheel, the drive and driven lshaftA leinglocat'ed in the 'otherldir'ectionfaxiallybf the wheel, andthe speed responsive means "inclidinga propeller Shaft driven with thefdriven shaft "fandexferiding: throughnthei'rtubular shaftlfrom a point A`fa'djacent the driven shaffto a point adjacent `the throttle. ll. iluid4 driven'powerunit ofthe clra'racterdescribed l including, a body adapt'dtor'eceive drivingfluid, a 4rotor carried in the body and driven by the uid, a throttle to control flow of fluid to the rotor and positioned by a piston responsive to the pressure of fluid in the body, a driven shaft carried by the body, a drive in the body from the rotor to the shaft, and an independent control means driven with the shaft and adapted to vary the fluid pressure acting on the piston and responsive to the speed of operation of the shaft, the rotor including a tubular shaft and a blade carrying wheel on the tubular shaft, the throttle being located in the body in one direction axially of the wheel, the drive and driven shaft being located in the other direction axially of the wheel, the saidV control means including, a propeller shaft driven with the driven shaft and extending through the tubular shaft from a point adjacent the driven shaft t-o a point adjacent the throttle, a pressure releasing valve, and a coupling between the propeller shaft and the releasing valve including an operating element actuated by centrifugal force.

l2. A iuid driven power unit of the character described including, a body adapted to receive driving fluid, a rotor carried in the body and driven by the fluid, a throttle to control flow of lluid to the rotor and positioned by a piston responsive to the pressure of iluid in the body, a driven shaft carried by the body, a drive in the body from the rotor to the shaft, and an independent control means driven with the shaft and adapted to vary the fluid pressure acting on the piston and responsive to the speed of operation of the shaft, the rotor including a tubular shaft and a blade carrying wheel Ion the tubular shaft, the throttle being located in the body in one direction axially of the wheel, the drive and driven shaft being located in the other direction axially of the wheel, the said control means including, a propeller shaft driven with the driven shaft and extending through the tubular shaft from a point adjacent the driven shaft to a point adjacent the throttle, a pressure releasing valve, and a coupling between the propeller shaft and the releasing valve including an operating element actuated by centrifugal force, the throttle including a sleeve valve surrounding the releasing valve and the coupling.

13. A ud driven power unit of the character described including, a body adapted to receive driving uid, a rotor carried in the body and driven by the uid, a throttle to control flow of fluid to the rotor and positioned by a piston responsive to the pressure of fluid in the body, a driven shaft carried by the body concentric with the rotor, a drive in the body from the rotor to the shaft, and an independent control means driven with the shaft and responsive to the speed of operation of the shaft and adapted to vary the uid pressure acting on the piston, the drive including a gear train with a driven gear on the driven shaft and concentric with the rotor, said gear train having driving engagement with a gear on the rotor.

14. A uid driven power unit of the character described including, a body adapted to receive driving fluid, a rotor carried in the body and driven by the fluid, a throttle to control flow of fluid to the rotor and positioned by a piston responsive to the pressure of fluid in the body, a driven shaft carried by the body concentric with the rotor, a drive in the brody from the rotor to the shaft, and an idependent control means driven with the shaft and responsive to the speed of operation of the shaft and adapted to vary the fluid pressure acting on the piston, the drive including, a gear train with a driven gear on the driven shaft and concentric with the rotor, and a countershaft having a gear driven from the rotor and carrying a pinion driving the driven gear.

15. A fluid driven power unit of the character described including, an elongate body adapted to receive l driving fluid at one end and having an exhaust opening, a rotor carried in the body including a tubular rotor shaft and a blade carrying wheel on the rotor shaft, a

12 driven shaft carried by the body concentric with the rotor and projecting'from the other end thereof, a speed reducing drive from the rotor shaft to the driven shaft, means in the body directing iiuid received by the body to the blades of the rotor, a throttle in the body'between the wheel and the rst mentioned end of the body adapted to control ow of fluid to said means and positioned by a piston responsive to the pressure of uid in the body, and an independent control means driven from the rotor and responsive to the speed of the rotor and adapted to vary the uid pressure acting on the piston and including, a propeller shaft driven with the driven shaft and extending through the rotor shaft to the throttle, and a centrifugally actuated means at the throttle and operated by the propellershaft to control the pressure acting on the piston to position the throttle.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 552,396

Belgiuml Feb. 28, 1951 

